Dorchester town councillor Tess James said residents had complained about the image painted underneath the railway bridge at Damers Road.

"They broadly feel it is a good project, excellently done - it's just the gun is not for us," she said.

Image copyrightSimon JuppImage caption
The wall was set up by the council in a bid to reduce vandalism in Dorchester

The project was set up to reduce vandalism and "unsightly" graffiti around Dorchester.

Ms Summers dismissed the criticisms as a "great shame".

"Free walls happen all over the world - where anyone can paint on top of other people's work. In fact, the town council could go and paint over the gun."

Rob Rees, who set up a Facebook group in support of the image, which has attracted more than 2,500 'likes', said: "Dorchester is an up-and-coming town but there are some people who are set in their ways.